Yellow Crocus

Beautiful southern historical fiction

I read this book in print back in 2012 and if I remember right I read it in Bahni’s voice so was very happy to listen to the real thing. Bahni Turpin’s narration was amazing; she is such a great narrator. Every character has their own voice and her male voices are great too. She makes this story come to life and embodies every character and makes them real.


This is a beautifully written book about a young white girl Lisbeth or Miss Elizabeth as her parents want her known as who grows up on Fair Oaks Plantation in the 1800’s. When Lisbeth is born she is handed from her mother to slave/wet-nurse Mattie who has been taken from the Quarters and her newborn son to the Big House and Elizabeth’s mother thinks she should be so grateful to be living in the lap of luxury. As time goes on Lisbeth learns to love and depend on Mattie much more than her own mother but Lisbeth is young and naïve and doesn’t realize there is much more to life on the plantation than she is seeing.

This is a coming of age story as we watch Lisbeth from the time she is born till she is a grown woman, we watch as innocence is replaced with knowledge and knowledge is not always a happy thing. This realization is a slow building and at times Lisbeth doesn’t want to see but when the time comes she has to make a choice- “ Decisions to make, she thought to herself. She was too tired to make any more decisions.”

I loved the character of Mattie she has this outlook on life that is inspiring especially considering the life she lives as a slave. And even though she had to leave her own child to take care of Lisbeth she loved the girl.

These characters were so real to me I could hear their voices in my head; I could see what they saw. This author gave voice to these people in such a beautiful way I can’t even come close to finding the correct words to explain it. This is a debut novel and I am amazed by that and hope this author writes many. Many more books because I plan on reading them all!

Beautiful southern historical fiction I highly recommend!

5 Stars

106 of 107 people found this review helpful

A rare find, a 5 star book!

I don't rate all good books with 5 stars, but I have absolutely nothing to nitpick about this audiobook. I enjoyed everything about it, and I am sure it will remain in my memory for a long time to come.

I am often wary of reading a "slave" book, just like I am of a "holocaust" book. It takes some emotional bracing and mental preparation beforehand, but I will not avoid these two heartrending and important subjects.

This book was beautifully written. The characters were well-developed and all very believable. Whether I loved them or hated them, I could surely understand their motivations and behaviors based on the times and the setting they resided in. The slavery period can make for very sad and uncomfortable reading, but author Ibrahim handled this with finesse, neither appealing to or manipulating our emotions and our guilt, nor glossing over it to make it more palatable. I feel the story was well-balanced and the facts of the period were presented in a non-preachy and non-exaggerated manner.

The story was engrossing to me. I really cared what happened to the two main characters, Mattie and Lisbeth. I held my breath at times when they exhibited behaviors that would likely put them in real danger, and I sighed with relief when it seemed that they would be all right. The ending was very intense and emotional--I listened with rapt attention, even though I believed I knew what was going to happen. This book is an example of what I refer to as "an author taking care of their readers."

The narration, in case you are wondering, was just perfect. I hope to find more audiobooks narrated by Turpin in the future.

140 of 144 people found this review helpful

Amazing!

just do it, read this book. it is an amazing and unforgettable journey. I do recommend!

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

Wonderful!

I loved this book. It was made all the more special by the fabulous narrator. At times I cried for the pain of the former lifestyle of slavery. But the love between two beautiful souls transcended and my tears of joy in the last two chapters will make this book one of my favorites forever.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Truly exceptional!

Absolutely masterful performance of a stunningly powerful and brilliant story. It was so very well written and told. Only personal histories like this can give us honest glimpses of the true brokenness borne of the tragedy of the slavery in our country. And this is but a small glimpse of that pain-- and the indoctrination and blindness which helped perpetuate this injustice...and the personal courage required to break free and create a new life.

The narrator was the absolute performer I have ever experienced! A masterpiece!

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Completely Enjoyable

This story is touching and enjoyable, and challenges one's assumptions about relationships, care-taking, roles in society and the pre-Civil War south. This certainly isn't a ground-breaking book, but it is a sweet and thoughtful story.

38 of 42 people found this review helpful

Best Book Ever!

What made the experience of listening to Yellow Crocus the most enjoyable?

How the story was told, almost as if you were there.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mattie of course!

What about Bahni Turpin’s performance did you like?

She just knows how to tell the story. I have listened to some of her other books also. Her voice is calm.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

That is for sure!! I hated leaving this book to do other chores:-( I didn't want the story to end!!!!

Any additional comments?

THIS JUST TOOK THE PLACE OF THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER LISTENED TO!!!

32 of 36 people found this review helpful

A Powerful Story Well Told

I loved this book! It is a compelling tale about the evils of slavery and the resilience of the human spirit. I recommend it highly.

30 of 34 people found this review helpful

Pulls at your heart strings

This was my first experience with audible. I chose the book because of cost after downloading the app. I am so very pleased with this my selection. This is not something that I normally read, but I absolutely fell in love with the story line, era, and the characters. I couldn't wait til bedtime for the last week so I could put in my earbuds and listen the more of the story. I am going to pick up a paperback version for my mother now. I know she will enjoy it just as much as I have. Wonderful story of love and real life. Although I cannot personally relate to the time and ways of life, I felt as the author did a great job of portraying how things really were. Fabulous story.

25 of 29 people found this review helpful

Great Book

What did you love best about Yellow Crocus?

Everything

What did you like best about this story?

It is so heart warming.

Which character – as performed by Bahni Turpin – was your favorite?

Mattie

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Too many to chose one

Any additional comments?

Could not put this down. Listened to it in one day.

24 of 29 people found this review helpful